A converter circuit for converting an output voltage from an AC power supply includes a rectifier circuit for rectifying the output voltage of the AC power supply; first and second capacitors connected in series, for smoothing the output of the rectifier circuit; and a switch circuit for switching the connections between the respective capacitors and the AC power supply so that the output voltage of the AC power supply is applied to each of the respective capacitors at a cycle that is shorter than the cycle of the AC power supply.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A converter circuit having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, and for boosting an output voltage of a single phase AC power supply having a first output terminal and a second output terminal constituting a pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, said converter circuit comprising: a rectifier circuit for rectifying an output voltage between the pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, and outputting the rectified output voltage of the single phase AC power supply to said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; first and second capacitors connected in series between said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; and a switch circuit comprising serially connected first and second switching elements, serially connected first and second diodes, and serially connected third and fourth diodes, wherein: said serially connected first and second switching elements, said serially connected first and second diodes, and said serially connected third and fourth diodes are connected in parallel with each other; a connection node of said first and second diodes is connected to the first output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a connection node of said third and fourth diodes is connected to the second output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a connection node of said first and the second switching elements is connected to a connection node of said first and the second capacitors; and said first and the second switching elements are operable to be switched by a switching control signal having a frequency that is higher than a frequency of the single phase AC power supply.
2. A converter circuit having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, and for boosting an output voltage of a single phase AC power supply having a first output terminal and a second output terminal constituting a pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, said converter circuit comprising: a rectifier circuit for rectifying an output voltage between the pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, and outputting the rectified output voltage of the single phase AC power supply to said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; first and second capacitors connected in series between said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; and a switch circuit comprising a first bidirectional switch and a second bidirectional switch, wherein: a first end of said first bidirectional switch is connected to a first end of said second bidirectional switch; a second end of said first bidirectional switch is connected to the first output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a second end of said second bidirectional switch is connected to the second output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a connection node of said first and second bidirectional switches is connected to a connection node of said first and the second capacitors; and said first and second bidirectional switches are operable to be switched by a switching control signal having a frequency that is higher than a frequency of the single phase AC power supply.
3. A converter circuit having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, and for boosting an output voltage of an single phase AC power supply having a first output terminal and a second output terminal constituting a pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, said converter circuit comprising: a rectifier circuit for rectifying an output voltage between the pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, and outputting the rectified output voltage of the single phase AC power supply to said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; a first capacitor connected between said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; a second capacitor having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second capacitor being connected to one of said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; and a switch circuit comprising: serially connected first and second switching elements; serially connected first and second diodes; and serially connected third and fourth diodes, wherein: said serially connected first and second switching elements, said serially connected first and second diodes, and said serially connected third and fourth diodes are connected in parallel with each other; a connection node of said first and second diodes is connected to the first output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a connection node of said third and fourth diodes is connected to the second output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a connection node of said first and second switching elements is connected to said second end of said second capacitor; and said first and second switching elements are operable to be switched by a switching control signal having a frequency that is higher than a frequency of the single phase AC power supply.
4. A converter circuit having a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, and for boosting an output voltage of a single phase AC power supply having a first output terminal and a second output terminal constituting a pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, said converter circuit comprising: a rectifier circuit for rectifying an output voltage between the pair of output terminals of the single phase AC power supply, and outputting the rectified output voltage of the single phase AC power supply to said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; a first capacitor connected to said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; a second capacitor having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second capacitor being connected to one of said pair of output terminals of said converter circuit; and a switch circuit comprising a first bidirectional switch and a second bidirectional switch, wherein: a first end of said first bidirectional switch is connected to a first end of said second bidirectional switch; a second end of said first bidirectional switch is connected to the first output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a second end of said second bidirectional switch is connected to the second output terminal of the single phase AC power supply; a connection node of said first and second bidirectional switches is connected to said second end of said second capacitor; and said first and second bidirectional switches are operable to be switched by a switching control signal having a frequency that is higher than a frequency of the single phase AC power supply.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 9, 2004
September 25, 2007
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